Erdogan Favors Changing Traditional Cyprus Policy
"Politics is an art of creating solutions instead of problems"
Anadolu News Agency, January 02, 2003, RIZE - Justice and Develop-ment Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, "I am not in favor of continuation of last 30-40 year's policy in Cyprus." More

PM Gul: "U.S.-Iraq War Avoidable"
"Iraq is like Pandora's box. This box should not be opened."
Albert Aji, Associated Press Writer, DAMASCUS, Syria - Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul discussed the Iraqi-U.S. standoff with Syrian leaders Saturday in a bid to reinforce Turkey's relations with the Arab world ahead of a possible war with Iraq. More

U.S., Israel, Turkey in Joint Exercise
The Associated Press, HAIFA, Israel (AP) - Israeli, Turkish and U.S. naval vessels conducted a joint exercise off the Israeli coast Wednesday, annual maneuvers aimed at honing sea rescue skills. As in the past, neighboring countries declined invitations to take part as observers. More

U.S. Congressional Armenian Caucus Gains 4 New Members
111 members of U.S. Congress defend the "Armenian cause"
The Turkish Times - According to Armenian sources in Washington DC, U.S. Congressmen James Barcia (D-MI), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), George Miller (D-CA) and Fred Upton (R-MI) have joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, bringing the number of U.S. Congressmen defending the "Armenian cause" to an all-time high of 111. More

White House Tracks Activity of Armenian Terrorists
CIA is said to be preparing a special report on terrorists
with Armenian passports Baku Today
December 31, 2002 (www.bakutoday.net) - The situation of CIS citizens' participation in terrorist activities committed in the territory of the USA was discussed at US Senate's Intelligence Committee in late-December. It became clear that businessmen coming from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan to the USA, especially California, Los Angeles and Washington have links with terrorist organizations. More

Turkish leader stresses strong ties with Israel
in meeting with U.S. Jews
Erdogan pledged to fight anti-Semitism in the Arab world
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (JTA) - At a moment of transition in the country's history, the Turkish leadership is reaching out to the American Jewish community. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the incoming Justice and Development Party, known as the AKP, met with Jewish leaders in Washington to express gratitude for the support Turkey has received from the American Jewish community, and to emphasize the bond between Israel and Turkey. More

A New Year's Party
David Barchard, Special to The Turkish Times - Not being much of a natural reveller, street parties hold few charms for me. Yet the gigantic street parties in Istanbul on Near Year's Eve this year, which gummed up not just squares and cross roads but also the side streets all the way from Beyoglu to Nisantasi made even an old fogey like me feel a twinge of envy. More

Notes from ATAA's 23rd Annual Convention
The Turkish Times - Can Turkey enter NAFTA? Since AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought it up during his meeting with U.S. President Bush during their White House meeting on December 10, the word is in the air: "Turkey should enter NAFTA," that is, North American Free Trade Agreement valid between the US, Mexico and Canada. More

Martyrs Massacred by Armenians In W.W. I Commemorated
Anadolu News Agency, ARDAHAN, Turkey - Martyrs who had been massacred by Armenians during the World War I, were commemorated in eastern province of Ardahan on Saturday, January 4, 2003.

Ardahan Governor Mustafa Yigit, 25th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Commander General Bayram Karapinar, Mayor Teoman Gungor and a number of residents were in attendance at the ceremony to commemorate the martyrs.

Association of Relatives of Martyrs Deputy Chairman Serdar Nalbant said that about 300 people were burnt to death at the Yanik Mosque 88 years ago in Ardahan which had been occupied by Armenians and Russians.

Noting that they held such a commemoration ceremony for the first time, Nalbant said that they would continue to hold the ceremony every year.